Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
They called (ekaloun). Inchoative imperfect began to call.
Barnabas, Jupiter (ton Barnaban Dia). Because Barnabas was the older and the more imposing in appearance. Paul admits that he was not impressive in looks (II Corinthians 10:10).
And Paul, Mercury (ton de Paulon ermhn). Mercury (ermhv) was the messenger of the gods, and the spokesman of Zeus. ermhv was of beautiful appearance and eloquent in speech, the inventor of speech in legend. Our word hermeneutics or science of interpretation comes from this word (Hebrews 7:2; John 1:38).
Because he was the chief speaker (epeidh autov hn o hgoumenov tou logou). Paul was clearly "the leader of the talk." So it seemed a clear case to the natives. If preachers always knew what people really think of them! Whether Paul was alluding to his experience in Lystra or not in Galatians 4:14, certainly they did receive him as an angel of God, as if "Mercury" in reality.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 14:12:
Luke 24:27
Acts 13:16
Acts 14:8
2 Corinthians 10:10
2 Corinthians 10:10
2 Corinthians 11:25
Galatians 4:14
2 Timothy 3:11
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